Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 26, 1993 TAG: 9306280256
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
My father is honest, possesses great integrity and, through personal example, teaches me to prize these qualities in myself and others. With the help of my mother, he nurtured a love of books and of learning in both his daughters. This remains a guiding force in our daily lives. When contemplating any major decision, my first words are "call dad" or "dad would . . ..". He recently told me that his goal as a parent had been to teach us to believe in ourselves. This is what is popularly known as building self-esteem, and it is the major tenet of parenting philosophy. My father is now a second-generation hero to my twin daughters who agree with their mother: Papa is the greatest!
My grandmother was equally important to me, providing me with a fun-loving, nature-loving, strong female role model. She has been dead five years, but she still remains as lively and wise as ever in my heart.
The only reason I believe this to be of any public interest is that, in this day of fallen heroes, a key point is consistently missed. When we grow up living with heroes, we know they have flaws. When my silver screen and athletic heroes are exposed as less than perfect, I realize that these are people who are paid to entertain and can only be held accountable to that goal. It's real-life heroes who teach me how to live my life. I wish my daughters and their generation the blessing of real-life heroes of character and not just heroes of talent. KAREN H. PILLIS ROANOKE
by CNB